5 Ways To Spend Your Time During Lockdown

With Pfizer recently announcing that a successful vaccine is well on its way the entire mood in the UK has been lifted. It’s hard to think that just a week ago we were plunged into another lockdown and though in many ways our lives have been turned upside down, the little things we took for granted like sitting next to co-workers or hugging loved ones could be becoming a clearer possibility in the near future. 

However, for now we have a few more weeks left of our latest ‘lockdown’ and how we choose to spend our time is completely up to us. It’s ok to binge watch the latest Netflix shows, or start a new health fad and it’s more important than ever that we do what makes us feel good. 

But just in case anyone feels a little lost on how to spend their time, we’ve made a list that could inspire you! So, here’s five things you could do whilst in lockdown! 

5. Learn a new skill 

Now more than ever before is the best time to tick things off your to-do list. You could learn a new language, cook a new recipe or even build your up CV. You don’t want to look back at all that spare time you had and regret not using it to your advantage. Being furloughed or looking for work can be a tough period for anybody but now is the best time to upskill and find ways to stand out in a highly populated candidate pool. The AIM Group have an array of free level 2 Qualifications ranging from mental health to digital skills, they’re a quick and easy way to showcase your skillset and productivity to employers and often lead to exciting new opportunities for those who complete them! 

4. Get fit! 

It’s been said time and time again, but exercise and eating well is crucial to maintaining good mental health, especially during lockdown. Exercising regularly has shown to reduce stress, improve sleep and even release hormones that make you feel good! And in terms of development, it doesn’t stop there, introducing regular exercise into your routine also boosts your productivity and time management, giving you the perfect starting block to climbing your career ladder. 

3. Taking time for your mental health 

It’s important to identify that this pandemic has also had an enormous impact on people's mental health. It’s normal to feel lonely, anxious and even depressed in such uncertain times. Sometimes talking to someone about it or taking time for yourself can put you back on the right track. 

You also shouldn’t put pressure on yourself on what you should be doing to spend your time, it’s normal to binge watch a TV show or take out some ‘me’ time. There is no right or wrong way to be doing things! 

If you’re worried about the mental health of others around you, our fully funded mental health courses can help you to recognise the symptoms and reach out to whoever you believe may be suffering in a constructive way, and perhaps prevent further negative mental health implications.  

2. Create a plan 

The fact that nobody knows when our countries economy will return to normal is incredibly overwhelming, with no end in sight, setting goals for the future can be tough. However, creating a plan for your future goals can not only be a great way to visualise your targets but it can also help focus the directions you’re putting your energy into.  

Want your dream job? Look up who’s doing that same job right now, what have they got on their CV that you haven’t? What are they doing differently to other people? What are they doing that you could do better? By creating a visual plan you’re setting yourself up for the future which will give you the upper hand in the job market against future competitors. 

1.Have a Digital Detox 

There’s no doubt that social media does have its uses, during lockdown it helped billions of us stay connected to loved ones and friends. But it doesn’t come without its consequences, with news arriving at us faster than ever before we’re constantly reminded of the pandemic, with every infection, death and rule change flooding our timelines.  

It’s obvious that overuse of Social Media can lead to increases in unhappiness and loneliness over time. That’s why it's important to schedule in parts of your day where you disconnect from social media and enjoy the environment around you, it could be a great time to keep your mind active by reading, listening to music or spending time talking to loved ones.